An international conference on Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual and Transgender human rights entitled “Love of Freedom, Freedom to Love,” is now going on in Copenhagen. Danish Socialist MP Kamal Hameed Qureshi, a heterosexual born in Pakistan, told the conference how he had to overcome prejudice and bigotry among family members and his community in order to speak out in favor of human rights for those whose sexual preferences did not fit normal ideas of Muslims. He emphasized the experience of growing up as a minority person in Denmark had sensitized him to issues of those who daily encounter bigotry and prejudice. Qureshi noted that while Denmark recognizes same-sex marriages the law dictates they can not take place in a church, let alone a mosque.

The Danish MP argued for an ombudsman who would deal with issues of sexual equality. Among the surprising aspects of his talk was discussion how there are already signs of change towards gays and lesbians in his conservative Muslim Pakistan community. Most probably, this arises from living in a multicultural society in which law supports the premise of equality for all members of the community.

There is now a parliamentary majority in Denmark which supports the principle of same sex adoption. The proposal would give partners registered in civil unions the right to adopt unrelated children both domestically and internationally. Denmark law currently allows individuals to adopt regardless of sexual orientation and for couples to adopt their partner’s existing children. The new proposal simply allows any civil union to adopt children. Denmark will shortly join other Nordic countries such as Norway, Sweden and Iceland in allowing such adoptions.

The movement toward extending equal rights to all people regardless of their sexual orientation is progressing, perhaps slowly, but it proceeds and within a decade this issue will not longer be of importance in most nations of the industrial world.

An enormous crowd of about 300,000 people thronged the streets of Sydney, Australia, to cheer on the 30th annual Gay and Lesbian Marids Gras. They watched as 10,000 people representing a wide variety of sexual beliefs marched through downtown Sydney to cheers of happy revelers. The march began in 1978 when a band of 1,500 homosexuals took to the streets to protest discrimination. Among those marching today were 186 members of the famous “78ers” who took part in the original demonstration. Diane Minis, from that group, said the march “makes gay, leslbian, transsexual, etc… very visible and that’s what we stll need.”

The march toward equality has proven to be on the right road, but there are still many examples of discrimination towards gays and lesbians in gaining equality in tax and pension benefits. It was also apparent the group had obtained support from many members of the Australian community including clerics who marched in the parade.